PESHAWAR, Feb 4: The upcoming Senate polls have overshadowed Pakistan People’s Party’s reorganisation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the worry of workers, who fear that any further delay in the shakeup could harm the party in the next general elections.

Some old PPP stalwarts, who spoke to Dawn on Saturday on condition of anonymity, complained that leadership was indifferent to the party’s growing differences at district levels in the province, while most leaders were more interested in securing Senate tickets.

They were fearful that if the situation continued any longer, then it could deal a serious blow to the party in the next elections. They said political groups, including the ruling Awami National Party, had begun preparing themselves for the next polls by holding public meetings but PPP was an exception to the surprise of activists.

These PPP stalwarts also regretted the party’s incomplete structure at provincial level.

After ANP, Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao organised public meetings, PPP, too, decided to show its strength at the provincial level by holding a public meeting in Peshawar on February 26.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani was to address the public meeting but the plan was later changed.

A PPP loyalist said: “I don’t see any reason for delay in strengthening the party. Our provincial president may be in better position to explain the reason.”

A source in PPP said the leaders, including some MNAs and MPAs, were disinterested in the party’s reorganisation as they had focused their attentions on becoming senators.

Noted among candidates for PPP Senate tickets are former federal minister Najamuddin Khan, Lal Mohammad Khan, senior provincial minister Rahim Dad Khan and MPA Faiza Rasheed.

Former provincial minister Ahmad Hassan Khan of Dir, Dost Mohammad Khan of Swat, Dr Afsarul Mulk of Shangla, Begum Tehman Khan of Peshawar, Shamsher Ali Khan of Swat, former Peshawar district Nazim Azam Afridi, PPP provincial information secretary Ayub Shah, Naseerullah Babar’s widow Pukhraj Begum, Fauzia Batool of Dera Ismail Khan and Begum Mukhtar Gujar of Lahore are in the running.

The source said a five-member PPP parliamentary board comprising Jahangir Badar, Senator Sardar Ali Khan, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Makhdoom Amin Fahim and MNA Faryal Talpur had almost completed the interview process but had yet to finalise candidate for Senate seats falling vacant in March.

He said the sitting MNAs and MPAs were likely to be ignored during the short-listing exercise as the leadership had already advised them to improve their vote bank in their respective constituencies and ensure return to the assemblies.

The source said some leaders were scolded by board members for trying to eying Senate and assembly seats simultaneously.

When contacted, Mr Rahim Dad denied having applied for Senate ticket and also expressed ignorance about possible ticket holders. He said it was the leadership’s privilege to name candidates for Senate elections, while the party’s leaders and workers were bound to accept its decisions.

Mr Rahim Dad said PPP and other parties had held talks for fielding joint candidates for Senate elections to check horse trading and make the whole exercise more transparent.

PPP information secretary Ayub Shah, too, said it was up to the party’s leadership to issue Senate tickets.

He said the party’s re-organisation and holding of public meetings would be expedited after Senate elections.

Several Senate hopefuls refused to speak to Dawn, saying it’s not right to say anything before candidates are named.